Jesse's Renegade (#3 of the Danner Quartet)

by Nancy Bush

  Jesse’s gripped tightened as Kelsey extended a hand. Knight slobbered over her gloved fingers just long enough to spark Jesse’s temper. He was saved from smashing Gerrard’s buck teeth down his throat by Tyrone’s intervention.

  “I see you’re still together,” he said, eyeing Jesse carefully.

  “Together,” Jesse agreed. He threw a glance at Kelsey, expecting her to inform McNamara and Knight about their marriage, but when she merely stood silently by his side, he was forced to take matters into his own hands. “Orchid’s my wife.”

  “Your wife!” Tyrone exclaimed.

  “So your little wager is off,” Jesse said in a controlled, pleasant voice.

  “Wager,” Knight blustered. “I don’t know what you mean.”

  “You know exactly what I mean,” Jesse countered, the pressure on Kelsey’s back increasing as he practically pushed her away from the two men.

  “Stop it,” she bit out once they were out of range. “I’m perfectly capable of walking on my own two feet. Keep pushing me and I’ll trip and make a scene.”

  “You could have helped me out with your friends back there,” he said dryly, “instead of leaving me to explain.”

  “You did fine as the jealous husband,” she answered with a toss of her head. “I swear, you should have taken up a theater career.”

  “Polish your own acting skills. We’re about to meet Montana and Lila Gray…”

  Kelsey gazed straight ahead to where Montana Gray and his elegant, beautiful blond wife stood side-by-side. They almost seemed to be waiting for them. Lila wore a royal blue chiffon dress that wrapped across her waist and pressed the tops of her breasts nearly out of the tight bodice. Her eyes were a bright, deep, glacial blue. In contrast to her peacock brilliance, Montana looked tough and deadly and somber in his dark gray suit. His face showed the remnants of his brawling days. Kelsey focused on the eye that drooped because the stare from his other one made her feel naked.

  Jesse’s hands were deep in his pockets. He made no gesture of politeness, friendliness, or even greeting. “Remember me?” he asked in a soft voice.

  “Yes, Mr. Danner. Now I do.” Montana moved slightly, indicating Lila. “You remember Mr. Danner, don’t you, darling?”

  Lila drew a deep breath, her bodice tightening until Kelsey was certain the seams would rip wide open, spilling out those globes of flesh for all the world to see. “Yes.” Her voice was strained.

  “I didn’t expect to see you again,” Montana had the gall to admit.

  “I was born under a lucky star.” Jesse smiled. “In fact, I’m back in Portland to do some business. Real estate business.”

  Montana kept up his one-eyed stare.

  “Since we’re bound to cross paths time and again, I thought you should know I’ve all but forgotten the past. Who knows? We might even be able to do business together, being as we’re both in real estate.”

  Kelsey could scarcely hide her astonishment. Montana would never believe him! Oh, Jesse was excellent. A consummate actor. But no one could possess the egomania to truly believe anyone could forgive an attempt on their life. Especially one as ruthless as Montana had made on Jesse’s.

  Montana didn’t change expression. Lila, however, fairly quivered at her husband’s side. The glimmering rope of sapphires around her neck refracted dazzling pinpoints of light with each tiny shiver Lila couldn’t control.

  A stab of jealousy shot through Kelsey, unexpected and hot as a branding iron. She didn’t need a crystal ball to discern this woman’s thoughts. Lila Gray was in an absolute panting state over Jesse.

  “Who’s your lovely companion?” Montana suddenly asked.

  “Orchid Simpson Danner. My wife.”

  Lila smothered a gasp. Her black eyes bored into Kelsey’s gray ones. Kelsey eased closer to Jesse, who draped his arm over her shoulders as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

  Montana clasped one of Kelsey’s hands. He actually bent down to kiss it. She steeled herself, repulsed beyond measure. Jesse tensed beside her. His lips looked dry and papery as they pressed against the soft fabric of her glove.

  “How long have you been married?” Lila’s voice was low.

  “A few weeks,” Kelsey answered.

  “I feel we’ve met before, but I’m sorry, Mrs. Danner, I can’t place you.”

  “I was companion to Lady Agatha Chamberlain’s granddaughter, Charlotte,” Kelsey explained.

  “Ah, yes. A lovely, lovely woman, Lady Chamberlain. We must have you to dinner soon.” The words tripped off Lila’s tongue as if she’d spoken them a hundred times this evening. Meaningless invitations between bored socialites.

  Kelsey’s heritage reared up. Forgetting everything she’d learned in Lady Chamberlain’s employ, she stated with a smile, “I really doubt that would be in the best taste, don’t you? I mean, considering the past. It’s hard for one to forgive being nearly beaten to death. I’m sure Jesse would –”

  Jesse coughed into his hand. “Excuse us, please,” he interrupted, practically carrying Kelsey to a remote corner of the room. “Are you finished?” he asked in an ominous tone.

  “I couldn’t stand it one more minute,” Kelsey defended herself in a harsh whisper, forestalling the lecture she was sure was coming. “That woman’s a viper. She practically wrapped herself around you and flicked her tongue in your ear.”

  Jesse’s head snapped around and he gazed at her in incredulity. “You sound like a jealous wife.”

  “I am a jealous wife. That’s what you wanted me to act like, wasn’t it?”

  “You’re not acting.”

  Kelsey wanted to swipe the pleased look off his face. “You may charm the leaves off trees, and the drawers off other women, but I know you. I haven’t forgotten what you did to Alice McIntyre, and God knows how many other silly girls in Rock Springs.”

  “What did I do to Alice McIntyre?” Jesse voice was the crack of a whip.

  “Seduced her. Maybe even… probably even… I mean, people said…”

  Jesse waited with growing impatience, but Kelsey couldn’t force the words past her lips. She didn’t truly believe he’d taken any woman against her will. Lord sakes, he wouldn’t have to! They practically fell at his feet. “After you left town, there were dozens of rumors about you. Terrible stories. Your name is infamous in Rock Springs.”

  He dropped her arm, glancing past her as if he’d suddenly grown tired of her company. “Are you ready to leave? Montana’s got the message, so my business is finished here.”

  Kelsey was as eager as he was to leave the stifling, opulent home. She squeezed past a chattering throng of latecomers and nearly ran smack into Charlotte. “Charlotte!” she greeted her with surprise and delight.

  “Hello, Orchid.” Charlotte gazed past Kelsey to Jesse, who was standing slightly behind her. “Jesse,” she said bitterly, inclining her head.

  Kelsey’s heart squeezed. “Is Agatha here?”

  “Yes, but she doesn’t want to speak to you.” Charlotte’s mouth was tight but her lips trembled ever so slightly. In a lacy white down that hinted at her full bosom, she looked young and fresh and innocent. Kelsey wanted to drag her into her arms and beg her forgiveness.

  But Charlotte brushed past them just as Agatha entered the room. Tears burned Kelsey’s eyes. She fought them back and put on a brave smile. “Hello, Agatha,” she greeted her.

  Agatha gazed at the young beauty who’d hurt her granddaughter. Kelsey’s eyes begged for forgiveness, but over Jesse Danner’s shoulder she caught Charlotte’s misery-filled gaze. “Hello, Orchid,” she said coolly, moving into the room with regal bearing.

  Kelsey was shattered. She’d thought Agatha understood. A hand dropped on her shoulder. “Come on,” Jesse said softly in her ear.

  In the carriage Kelsey swayed against the luxurious squabs, so filled with her own misery that she didn’t notice the speculative way Jesse was watching her. Her hands were clenched in her lap; her unhappy gaze directed out the w
indow to the breathless night beyond.

  At their house she barely registered the light feel of Jesse’s hand as he guided her down the steps to the cobblestone walk. At the door, Irma took their coats, shooting anxious glances from Jesse’s dark countenance to Kelsey’s pale one.

  “Would you like a brandy?” Jesse asked as Kelsey turned automatically toward the stairs and their upstairs bedroom suites.

  “No, thank you.”

  “You need one.”

  “I’m perfectly fine.” She moved up the deep blue carpeted stairs as if in a dream.

  She removed her down and fumbled with the clasp on her necklace. A sudden breath of air made her glance to the door. It was open and Jesse stood there with a brandy snifter in his hand.

  “Drink this,” he ordered.

  Dressed in a camisole and drawers, Kelsey felt positively naked. She froze at her vanity table as he set the glass down beside her perfumes.

  Jesse finished removing her necklace and eased it down in a coil. He met her gaze in the mirror. “Charlotte will get over it.”

  “Will she?” Kelsey’s mouth quivered. She fingered the coil of rubies, afraid to meet his gaze for long.

  “Yes.”

  Kelsey swallowed. “And will Agatha ever forgive me?” she asked miserably.

  “Someday you can tell them the whole truth.”

  “I already told her. It doesn’t seem to help.” She pinned on a bright smile. “You don’t have to try to cheer me up, Jesse. It’s really a little thing. I’ll be fine.”

  In the mirror’s reflection she saw his dark head nod. Then she felt his fingers brush her hair lightly, and to her enormous surprise he bent down and laid a kiss on her nape.

  Twenty minutes later she lay in bed, staring up at the canopy. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d cried, but tears hovered in the corners of her eyes. Scrunching up the pillow, she buried her face in it, willing away the anguish that threatened to engulf her.

  Chapter Eleven

  The bright lights of the chandeliers beamed down on Kelsey with malevolent heat. She’d thought July was hot, but August was an oven. She was sick to death of women in fine gowns and men in tuxedos and people of both sexes trying to outwit, outcharm, and outmaneuver one another at social event after social event.

  Tonight they were at the home of Margaret and Walter Fuller, acquaintances of Agatha’s, friends of Montana and Lila Gray’s, and as glamorous and morally bankrupt a couple as one would ever hope to meet. The Fullers had extended the invitation to their luxurious home to a scrupulously edited guest list; yet the party had swelled to enormous proportions as social climbers and gate-crashers alike (she and Jesse had been lucky enough to be honored with one of the gilt-edged vellum invitations) packed the ballroom.

  Yes, Kelsey knew more about the goings-on of Portland’s upper-classes than anyone had a right to. She knew, for instance, that Margaret Fuller was pregnant, but the child wasn’t her husband’s. She also knew that Walter Fuller had a cozy little hotel room set up for his mistress, Eunice Winterton, who just happened to be Tyrone McNamara’s married sister. Since Richmond Winterton was fifty, and looked a hundred, and spent most of his time gambling with Gerrard Knight, no one much blamed Eunice. And anyway, she might be a widow soon, since Richmond, and Gerrard too, for that matter, were rumored to owe their very souls to Montana Gray. It was becoming well known that those who couldn’t pay their debts suffered rather unlucky fates, though it was heresy to even whisper that Montana Gray might be to blame …

  And Montana Gray was as pervasive as a bad smell. Kelsey skin crawled whenever he was nearby, which lately had been often, since he and Jesse were now close business associates. Lord sakes, but she didn’t see how Jesse stood it. She knew how much Jesse hated Montana, but he was a master at hiding his emotions. Zeke was much less effective at this. He actively loathed the man but was smart enough to keep his distance so that Montana and he were rarely in close contact.

  Lila Gray drove Kelsey to distraction. The looks she passed over Jesse were sinfully avaricious. Kelsey was consumed with the desire to rip every blond hair out of her head and hold her at gunpoint and see how long it took before she cracked. She accepted this jealous side of her nature as inevitable. Jesse was her property, at least temporarily, and Lila had no right to be so openly eager to crawl between the sheets with him.

  Now, tonight, they were all together for another evening of dining and dancing and gossiping. It was all in the name of revenge, and Kelsey was damned near at the end of her tether. But anytime she asked Jesse how his business was progressing, he dismissed her with a “fairly well” or “don’t worry about it” or “I’ll let you know soon.”

  It was enough to send a girl from Rock Springs straight for her rifle.

  Over the rim of her champagne glass, Kelsey glared darts at the broad back of her husband. If he didn’t level with her soon, she would have to take matters into her own hands. She’d started already, as a matter of fact. Whenever Jesse was out of the house she practically ransacked the papers and drawers of his desk, searching for some clue to the exact means he’d chosen for this revenge. To date, she’d been unsuccessful, but sooner or later Jesse would inadvertently leave some clue lying about.

  And even if her efforts failed, she might yet squeeze the information from either Samuel or Zeke. They seemed to at least credit her with the brain, and she’d caught the sympathetic looks Samuel sent her way whenever Jesse was particularly short-tempered with her questions.

  Either way, she refused to be kept in the dark much longer. This purgatory marriage was enough to drive her out of her mind. She was ready to end it, completely ready in fact. For the interim, however, she’d contacted Agatha and requested that the rest of her belongings – including her rifle – be sent to her new home. Jesse had been out with Zeke when the package had arrived so Kelsey had been able to secrete the rifle in her bedroom closet.

  Lila Gray’s sultry laughter sounded from somewhere near the dais at the end of the room, where the band members were warming up. Kelsey’s gray eyes narrowed. What a treat it would be to hold Lila down the barrel of her rifle until she shriveled up with fear.

  It was a delicious dream and it kept Kelsey entertained for nearly an hour while she avoided the dance floor and the throngs of spoiled, self-appointed aristocrats.

  Her solitude was abruptly interrupted by a familiar dowager who, upon spying Kelsey, charged toward her like a steam engine. Madame Lacey Duprés, Kelsey thought with an inward groan, glancing around for an avenue of escape. The woman had been at several of the balls, soirées, and charity fund-raisers where Kelsey and Jesse had played out their highly social, mad-about-each-other charade. Madame Duprés had made a terrible pest of herself, but she apparently had enough money and connections to keep her name on at least some of the social lists, for she invariably turned up like the bad penny she was.

  And she’d targeted Kelsey – or more accurately, Orchid – as her next victim for reasons that were beyond Kelsey’s ken.

  “Mrs. Danner!” she bellowed as Kelsey searched desperately for some means of escape. “How wonderful to see you again. Our paths seem destined to cross. Jeffrey!” She glanced around for her loyal servant, who immediately snapped to attention. “Send the waiter with more champagne.”

  “Yes, Madame.”

  Kelsey ducked her head to hide a smile. “Excuse me, Madame Duprés. I believe I see my husband signaling me.”

  “Wait just a moment,” she ordered imperiously. “I’m having an intimate affair at my suite at the Portland Hotel next Sunday afternoon, and I positively insist that you be there.”

  “I – don’t think I can.”

  “You and your husband have put me off twice now. I’m beginning to think you’re deliberately avoiding me. Does a more important invitation keep you from attending?”

  For once in her life Kelsey fertile brain seemed to stall. She didn’t have an excuse. The thought of another lavish affair, especially one host
ed by Lacey Duprés, was singularly depressing. Also, Jesse would have no interest in attending as Montana Gray wasn’t invited; he loathed these parties as much as Kelsey did and accepted invitations only to keep up appearances. Kelsey suspected Lacey Duprés wouldn’t be on the top of Gray’s “must-see” list, so Jesse would refuse to go.

  And it would probably irritate the hell out of him if she accepted an invitation for them, she realized, deciding it was time to take action. “Thank you, Madame Duprés. I’ll be there even if my husband can’t pull himself away from his latest business venture.”

  “And Lady Chamberlain? I expect you to convince her to accept my invitation also.”

  “I can’t speak for Lady Chamberlain.” Kelsey involuntarily glanced around the room, searching for Agatha. So that was why Lacey Duprés was so interested in her. To get an “in” with Agatha. Fresh pain welled inside her, and she focused again on Jesse’s strong back halfway across the room. Jesse, who was consulting with Zeke and Samuel and …

  Lila Gray.

  Lila stood on the periphery of their circle, one hip thrust forward provocatively. She wore ice blue – blue appeared to be her trademark color – and the gown dipped scandalously low in the back. Only Montana’s tremendous grip on Portland industry kept her from being publicly shunned, for she was as outrageous and bold as any harlot.

  “Excuse me,” Kelsey said, stalking toward the group.

  It struck her when she was almost upon Lila that she should be glad some other woman was so interested in Jesse. Knowing her husband, his forced celibacy was bound to create problems. Kelsey didn’t want those “problems” to turn his attention back to her. Since the fight over her derringer, and the aftermath, and those tense, passionate moments on the Grays’ balcony, Jesse had left her alone. The only kiss he’d given her was the tender one the night she’d been so hurt and lost after Charlotte had snubbed her.

  Samuel spied her first, coughing discreetly into his hand to smother a smile. Jesse turned around and Lila, who’d placed her lily-white fingers on his arm, circumspectly drew back her hand.